Storm-front for vehicle-tops.



No. 811,039. PATENTED JAN. 30, 1906.

U. G. DAUGHERTY. STORM FRONT FOR VEHICLE TOPS.

APPLICATION FILED DEG.12, 1903.

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0'. G. DAUGHERTY.

STORM FRONT FOR VEHICLE TOPS.v APPLIGATION FILED DEO.12, 1903.

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STORM-FRONT FOR VEl-llOlLlE-TOPSM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 30, 1906.

Application filed December 12, 1903. Serial No. 184,952.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OI-IARLEs C. DAUeH- ERTY, a citizen. of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Storm Fronts for Vehicle-Tops; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention. relates to hoods or aprons adapted to be attached to vehicle-tops for the purpose of protecting the occupants of the vehicle from rain, snow, and sleet.

The invention consists in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating an embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a buggy-body with its top raised and my improved apron or hood applied thereto. Figs. 2 and 3 are side and edge views, respectively, of an improved hook for engaging the top front props. Fig. 4 is a perspective view in section of a clip attached to. the middle of the upper edge of the front portion of the buggytop. Fig. 5 is a view of the upper edge of the hood or apron with parts broken out to show the elastic portions. Figs. 6 and 7 are edge and face views, respectively, of the elastic band and hooks for securing the hood or apron to the edges of the dash.

The apron or hood is composed of a middle portion 1, adapted to extend between and inclose the opening between the front edge of the buggy-top and the upper edge of the dash, and side portions 2, adapted to inclose the opening between the sides of the buggytop and the buggy body and dash. The middle of the upper edge and the extreme ends of said upper edge of the portion 1 are made inelastic. Between the said inelastic middle and ends I provide pockets or casings 1, inwhich are inclosed elastic straps 1", said straps when not fully distended shirring or puckering the goods, as indicated in Fig. 1. By this last-described construction the elastic shirred portions are not bent around the corners of the buggy-top, and the connection between the front and the buggy at that point is therefore .made closer and more waterproof. At the extremities of the middle portion of the upper edge of the apron I provide hooks 3, having their shanks 3 riveted. to the said extremities and having inwardly-turned downward extensions 3 riveted to the side portions 2, said downward extensions being made with an eye or fingerpiece 3", whereby the hook can be readily manipulated to connect it with or disengage it from the top front props of the buggy-top, and midway between the extremities of the upper edge of the middle portion of the apron I secure by riveting or otherwise a metallic clip 4; of substantially the form shown in Fig. 4-that is, with a shank portion 1 to rest on the bow, an upwardly-extending curved portion 4- to engage the upper edge of the valance, and a downwardly-extending portion 4 to rest against the front face of the valance. The lower portion of the front is provided with a casing and an elastic 5, which when unstretched shirs or puckers the fabric, and the ends of the elastic portion are provided with ordinary hooks 5 adaptedv to engage the vertical edges of the dash. The rear edges of the side portion 2 of the curtain. are attached to the bows in any appropriate manner-as, for example, by means of a strap, clip, or hook, adapted to be readily applied and removed from the bows.

From the construction shown and described it will be observed that when the apron or hood is applied there is provided a large, smooth, and unpuckered area in the middle portion 1, in which can be secured the glass or light through which the occupant of the buggy may look. In this area I now propose to stitch or otherwise secure a piece of flexible transparent celluloid 6.

Because of the large smooth area in the upper portion of the middle section of the apron I am enabled to use a large light of flexible material. Furthermore, the large, smooth, and unshirred area is held in this position of smoothness and flatness by means of the clip 41. A storm-front with the flexible light is more easily and compactly rolled for shipment and perfectly safe from injury in shipment.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1.. A storm-front for vehicle-tops comprising a middle or front portion. and side portions, the upper edge of the middle portion being inelastic at its middle and ends but provided near its ends with elastics and with hooks for engagement with the upper corners of the top.

2. A storm-front for vehicle-tops, comprising a middle or front portion, and side portions, the upper edge of the middle portion being inelastic at its middle and ends but provided near its ends with elastics and with hooks to engage the upper corners of the Vehicle-top and a clip near the middle of the upper edge of the front to engage the Valance.

3. A storm-front for vehicle-tops comprising a middle or front portion, and side portions, the upper edge of the middle portion being inelastic at its middle and ends but provided near its ends with elastics and with hooks to engage the upper corners of the vehicle-top, and a light secured in the area below the middle portion of the upper edge of the front.

4. A storm-front for vehicle-tops comprisa middle or front portion, and side portions, the upper edge of the middle portion being inelastic at its middle and ends but provided near its ends with elastics and with hooks to engage the upper corners of the vehicle-top, and a flexible light secured in the area below the middle portion of the upper edge of the front.

5. In combination with the ends of the upper edge of a storm-front, a single-piece hook having a shank at its upper side, an inwardly-bent extension below the hook and a finger-piece on the inwardly-bent extension.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of tWo witnesses.

CHARLES C. DAUGHERTY.

Witnesses:

BENJ. FINoKEL, S. l/V. LATHAM. 

